With the transition of gp41 into the six-helix bundle, fusio...

created [InstanceEdit:177564] Gopinathrao, G, 2006-04-03 16:21:29
dbId 177577
displayName With the transition of gp41 into the six-helix bundle, fusio...
modified [InstanceEdit:180648] Gopinathrao, G, 2006-05-30 19:38:17
schemaClass Summation
text With the transition of gp41 into the six-helix bundle, fusion of the viral and target cell membranes begins to take place. The specifics of fusion are not completely clear, but it is understood that fusion proceeds after insertion of the gp41 fusion peptide, which results in curvature of viral and target cell membranes. This results in a state of hemi-fusion, where only the outer lipid bilayers of each membrane are fused, whereas membrane leaflets that are distal with respect to the intermembrane gap remain separate at this stage. Hemi-fusion allows the exchange of lipids between the contacting leaflets, whereas the exchange of aqueous content between the virus and the cell remains blocked. The next step in fusion is the merger of the distal leaflets, leading to the formation of a nascent fusion pore, which leads to mixing of viral and cellular contents. Studies of fusion of Influenza virus suggested that multiple hairpin structures may form a narrow fusion pore which subsequently expands to a larger opening. In the case of HIV, this larger opening allows for passage of the Matrix-surrounded viral core out of the virus and into the host cell cytoplasm.
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